2050: A Time of Courage

Chapter 24: Rosalie

I spend the next couple of days doing my best to avoid Alessa, and I wonder now if that's where I somehow made a mistake.

Most of the time, it was easy for me to do, since her job on the city patrol kept her busy every other night or so, and she spent most of the daytime hours asleep.

On the fifth day, though, my luck runs out. I'm alone, something I have been trying to keep from being, when Alessa corners me.

"Who did you tell?" she snarls, leaning down so she can match my height and get in my face, "Who did you tell about our conversation, Shorty?"

Talking gets you in trouble.

I stare at her, shaking my head silently as I decide never to say a word to her.

Don't talk to strangers.

Never tell secrets to people you don't trust, who might end up being bad and hurting you for what you know.

"Give me a name." Alessa hisses, gripping each of my shoulders, "Give me the name, and I might let one of you off without a consequence."

She glares at me, her gaze seeming a bit unfocused as she tries to zero it in on my face.

She really does look crazy right now, and even if I wanted to speak I'm too scared to try.

"Fine," Alessa says, "I can make a guess. Shemik."

She spits the name like it's the worst word she could possibly say.

How does she know?

How did she figure out that I told anyone, let alone who I told?

Alessa is smiling now, and it doesn't look right on her face.

"She is the oldest. It is natural for you to go to her with all your insignificant little problems, isn't it? Don't worry, I won't hurt her. Oh no, I won't do anything to harm your precious mind-reading friend. Tonight, you sit next to me at dinner, or I may change my mind."

Why? What is she going to do to me? Why does she want me to do something that seems so random? She can't do anything in front of the others, can she?

The questions are probably making their way onto my face, and Alessa narrows her eyes at me.

"Don't look so afraid. You'll see soon enough."

She lets go of me, turning away like the conversation never happened. She half limps, half shuffles down the hallway, her bedroom door slamming behind her as she steps inside.

~*~

I follow Alessa's instructions for dinner, making sure to sit next to her as we all gather in the dining room. The curtains are pulled back, the light from the sunset giving the room an almost-eerie look. As I take my seat, Alessa reaches past me, her movement going unnoticed by everyone else at the table. Lili, Theo, and Jason are too wrapped up in a conversation to pay her any attention, and Dimitri is talking to Emilio and Shemik about something.

Alessa holds a small spoon in her hand, and as I watch, she empties it into my glass.

When Mrs. DiLorenzo gives her a weird look, Alessa just smiles.

"Itis nothing, Francesca. Not enough sugar."

Mrs. DiLorenzo just nods, looking like she might be scared to ask any more questions about what the girl is doing.

Alessa leans in close to me as everyone focuses on the meal, her breath tickling my ear in a way that makes me want to move as far away as I can get.

"Wait until Shemik and Emilio leave the table." Her voice is so demanding, so cold, that for a moment I forget to breathe, "If either of them ask you, you wanted to talk to me without them in earshot. Stick to that story as though your life depends on it, and follow the directions. When the two of them are gone, take a drink from the glass. Do not do it before. This will only be as difficult as you make it. Do you understand me?"